Rodent habitat

ABSTRACT

A rodent habitat comprising a transparent plastic housing which includes an open bottom portion. A screen is connected across the open bottom portion of the housing, whereas a shallow tray is provided for receiving the open bottom portion of the housing in detachable relation. An arrangement of adjustable tubes and subhousing structures are provided for detachable association with the transparent housing and mutual communication with one another.

United States Patent Willinger et al.

[451 Feb. 12, 1974 RODENT HABITAT [75] Inventors: Allan H. Willinger,New Rochelle;

Albert J. Dinnerstein, Far Rockaway, both of NY.

[73] Assignee: Metaframe Corporation, Maywood,

[22] Filed: Jan. 21, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 219,767

[52] US. Cl 119/17, 119/1, 119/15 [51] Int. Cl A01k l/00 [58] Field ofSearch 119/1,l5, 17,18,19

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,576,462 3/1926 Polzin119/5 3,653,357 4/1972 Sheidlowcr 3,742,908 7/1973 Merino 119/15 Gass eta1. 119/18 2,914,022 ll/1959 Hinton 119/17 3,367,308 2/1968 Quattrone eta1..... 119/18 X 2,002,259 5/1935 Cole 119/19 2,795,208 6/1957 Rasmussen119/19 X Primary Examiner-Hugh R. Chamblee Attorney, Agent, orFirmFriedman & Goodman [57] ABSTRACT 39 Claims, 22 Drawing FiguresPAIENI ma 1 2:914

saw 1 or 6 FIG.

I40 FIGZ.

PAIENI FEB 1 21974 SHEEI 3 BF 6 PAIENIE FEB 1 21974 SHEEI 0F 6 FIG- I4-FIG- PATENIEU FEB 1 21914 SHEET 5 OF 6 @iwl PATENTED FEB 1 2 1914 SHEEI8 OF 6 RODENT HABITAT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present inventionrelates generally to structure for use by hobbyists and the like forconfining animals of rodent variety, and more particularly to an animalor rodent habitat which may be assembled, disassembled and rearrangedselectively in generally any manner desired by the hobbyist or the like.

As is commonly well known, animals of rodent variety, namely hamstersand like, are often maintained by hobbyists in cages which confine theanimal and restrict the animals movements to a minimal extent.Accordingly, animals maintained in this environment become listless,less active, and fail to provide the excitement and novelty for thehobbyist as when originally purchased and brought into the home or thelike.

Moreover, the hobbyist must often resort to freeing the animal or rodentfrom its cage environment, thereby, subjecting himself to a substantialdegree of difficulty in attempting to recapture the rodent thereafter.Accordingly, the mere provision of cages and the like for maintaininganimals of rodent variety is a serious disadvantage.

Another disadvantage associated with the conventional type of cage forconfining animals of rodent variety is that the cages themselves are notreadily adaptable for being easily dismantled for permitting cleaning ofthe cage of animal excrement and other debris while the animal itself isstill maintained or isolated within the cage and prevented fromescaping.

Still another disadvantage associated with the conventional type of cageis that animals of rodent variety tend to gnaw at surfaces projectinginto the cage and, therefore, when the cage itself is constituted oftransparent plastic having inwardly projecting sharply defined surfaces,the latter surfaces may be gnawed at and damaged by the rodent.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the presentinvention to provide an animal or rodent habitat which may be assembled,disassembled and rearranged selectively for encouraging rodents and thelike to remain active in generally universally observable relation.

It is another object to provide a primary housing and auxiliary orsub-housings each of which may be readily cleaned while the animal ismaintained within the respective housings.

It is another object to provide conduits or tubes which themselves maybe dismantled into mating segments or the like to permit cleaning of theinterior thereof, the interior including a roughened or textured surfacefor permitting animals to climb upwardly therealong.

It is still a further object to provide elastomeric coupling sleeves forjoining the tubes and housings relative to one another to obviatepossible fracture or breakage of the interconnected portions of thetubes and housings with one another.

it is still another object of the present invention to provide surfaceswhich project inwardly of the respective housings which are sufficientlycurved in nature so as to be generally gnaw resistant, and to providegenerally metallic blinds or discs for detachable association withrespective coupling openings in the various housings to likewise resistgnawing of these openings by m dents confined in the respectivehousings. 7

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide conduitsor tubes which are telescopically associated with one another forpermitting ready adjustment of these tubes both lengthwise andheightwise with one another in a selective manner by the hobbyist.

It is a further object to provide an external upper concavity in theprimary housing to permit supporting of accessories or the like, whichaccessories are telescopically or slidable adjustable relative to theupper concavity between an operative elevated position and aninoperative lowered position such as for packaging, shipping and thelike.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide variousauxiliary sub-housings which are tinted, colorwise, so as to permitrodents and the like to generally hide therein, yet permit at leastpartial observation of the rodent.

Accordingly, the present invention may be characterized as relatinggenerally to an animal habitat comprising an at least partiallytransparent housing which includes an open bottom portion, a screenconnected across said open bottom portion, and tray means operativelyassociated with said open bottom portion for receiving the latter indetachable relation, said screen acting to generally isolate andmaintain an animal in said housing from said tray means when the latteris either attached or detached from said housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS With the above and additional objectsand advantages in view, as will hereinafter appear, this inventioncomprises the devices, combinations and arrangements of partshereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings of apreferred embodiment in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the primary housing of theanimal habitat pursuant to the present invention with an auxiliarysub-housing telescopically arranged thereon in a lowered position suchas for packaging and shipping or the like;

FIG. 2 illustrates a fragmentary enlarged crosssectional view, inelevation, of the telescopic arrangement for supporting the auxiliarysub-housing upon the primary housing illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the shallow tray forassociation with the front, rear and side walls of the primary housingat the bottom portion of the latter;

FIG. 4 illustrates a view similar to FIG. 1 with the auxiliarysub-housing in an elevated or raised position;

FIG. 5 illustrates an elevational cross-sectional view of twotransparent tubes joined to one another through the intermediary of anelastomeric coupling sleeve pursuant to one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 illustrates a fragmented plan view of the auxiliary sub-housingillustrated in FIG..4;

FIG. 7 illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along the line 77 inFIG. 6;

FIG. 8 illustrates one manner by which the structure, pursuant to thepresent invention, maybe arranged relative to one another inperspective;

FIG. 9 illustrates an elevational fragmented crosssectional view of twotubes as joined through the intermediary of an elastomeric couplingsleeve pursuant to an alternate embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. illustrates a pair of semi-annular tube segments, in perspective,for mating with one another;

FIG. 11 illustrates a horizontal cross-sectional view of the mating tubesegments pursuant to one embodiment thereof;

FIG. 12 illustrates a top plan view of the primary housing pursuant toan alternate embodiment thereof;

FIG. 13 illustrates a fragmentary elevational crosssectional view takenalong the line 1313 in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 illustrates a fragmentary perspective view of the housingillustrated in FIG. 12;

FIG. 15 illustrates a perspective view of a metallic doorway forassociation with a generally L-shaped access opening illustrated in FIG.14;

FIG. 16 illustrates a perspective view of an alternate arrangement ofthe present invention incorporating a further auxiliary sub-housing withthe primary housing;

FIG. 17 illustrates a fragmentary enlarged elevational cross-sectionalview of a corner portion of the primary housing as associated with thetray therefor;

FIG. 18 illustrates a perspective view of a plurality of auxiliarysub-housings as interconnected to one another through the intermediaryof communicating tubular members;

FIG. 19 illustrates an enlarged cross-sectional view of the varioustubes as joined to one another;

FIG. 20 illustrates a view similar to FIG. 19 of additional tubes incommunicating relation with one another;

FIG. 21 illustrates a cross-sectional view of mating tube portionspursuant to an alternate embodiment thereof; and

FIG. 22 illustrates still a further embodiment of the mating tubesegments with one another.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings, andmore particularly to FIGS. 1-3 thereof, the present invention relatesgenerally to an animal or rodent habitat having a primary housingdenoted generally by the reference character 100. The primary housing100 is generally constituted of rigid thermoplastic such as polystyrene,or the like, and is transparent for permitting ready observation of ananimal confined therein.

The primary housing 100 includes a tapered front face 102, a taperedrear face 104, a tapered left side face 106 and a smaller, likewisetapered, right side face 108.

Both the front and rear faces 102 and 104 respectively, adjacent thesmaller right side face 108, are provided with upper arcuate edges 110respectively which cooperatively define a generally upper horizontalsurface 112 which adjoins an upper generally vertically extendingsurface 114 through the intermediary ofa generally gnaw-resistantrounded transition surface 116 having a radius of curvature of at leastone-half inches, the surfaces 112, 114 and 116 cooperatively definingwhat may be characterized generally as a shoulder of a depressedexternal concavity upon which may be supported accessories or the likein a manner as will be described below.

Adjacent the generally depressed external concavity aforementioned, thehousing 100 is provided with an open top portion 118 across which may beconnected, such as by conventional means, namely hinges or a detentarrangement, a perforated metallic plate 120 for permitting ready accessthrough the open top portion 118 into the housing 100. Moreover, thehousing is provided with an open bottom portion 122 across which may beconnected, in a conventional manner, a screen 124 having respectiveopenings of at least one quarter inches for the purpose as also will beclarified below.

Operatively associated with the open bottom portion 122 of the housing100, in detachable relation, is a generally shallow tray constitutedpreferably of an elastomeric thermoplastic such as polypropylene orpolyethylene and the like, the tray 126 having generally vertical front,rear and opposing side walls 128 respectively from which integrallyextends a surrounding outwardly flaring flange 130, the significance ofwhich will be clarified below. Moreover, internally of the bottomportion of the tray 126 is provided elongate raised riblike structure132 against which the screen 124 may rest so as to be maintainedsubstantially in slightly spaced parallel relation with the bottominterior of the tray 126 within a clearance range of approximatelyone-eighth one-half inches.

Accordingly, the housing 100 may be readily used for maintaining ananimal in captivity without any requirement for removing the animaltherefrom when the housing 100 is to be cleaned, such as the removal ofanimal excrement and other debris therefrom. In this respect, an animalof rodent variety may be inserted into the housing 100 through the opentop portion 118 thereof by lifting the perforated plate and, thereafter,reinstating the perferated plate 120 into a closed condition upon theopen top portion 118. Since rodents and the like require a soft surfaceupon which they are to move about, the hobbyist may insert litterconstituted of corn cob chips or the like into the housing 100 so as tooverlie the bottom interior of the tray 126, extend through theclearance between the screen 124 and bottom interior of the tray 126,and partially overlie the screen 124 so as to provide a soft litterbedding substance upon which the rodent may move about freely.

When it is necessary to remove the waste or other debris from thehousing 100, the shallow tray 126, which is operatively associated withthe open bottom portion 122 of the housing 100 in ready detachablerelation, such as through the provision of detents and the like, may bedetached from the housing 100, thereby, permitting the corn cob chips orlitter particles having an extent somewhat smaller than the openings inthe screen 124, or somewhat less than one quarter inches, to be shakenand passed through the screen 124 into the shallow tray 126, thesurrounding outwardly flaring flange 130 acting, in an auxiliaryfashion, to retain falling litter particles within the confines of thetray 126 and, thereby, obviating the formation of a messy surroundingenvironment. Thus, the shallow tray 126 may, thereafter, be emptied fordisposal in a convenient manner, the screen 124 acting to isolate andmaintain rodent within the confines of the housing 100.

The provision of the cleanance of one-eighth onehalf inches between thescreen 124 and the bottom interior of the shallow tray 126 acts toprevent the rodent, who tends to gnaw at especially soft surfaces, fromgnawing away at the shallow tray 126 which is preferably constituted ofan elastomeric or soft thermoplastic to permit ready attachment anddetachment relative to the housing 100. Accordingly, it is likewisecontemplated to provide a shallow tray constituted of generally rigidthermoplastic, and having appropriate dentents and the like forpermitting ready attachment and detachment relative to the housing 100,likewise. However, in this instance, the screen 124 need not necessarilybe spaced from the bottom interior of the tray 126 since in thisinstance the generally rigid nature or hardened nature of the tray 126,when constituted such as of polystyrene or the like, will notnecessarily be subjected to substantial damage due to gnawing.

However, in order to prevent the screen 124 from buldging downwardlywhen subjected to the weight of a rodent or the like, and therebycausing possible separation or disjoinder of the screen 124 relative tothe open bottom portion 122 of the housing 100, the bottom interior ofthe shallow tray 126 is provided with the aforementioned elongate raisedribs 132 which act to restrain the extent of buldging associated withthe screen 124 when the latter is subjected to the weight of an animal.Of course, the ribs 132 may be constituted of rigid thermoplastic suchas polystyrene or the like. However, when the means by which the edgesof the screen 124 is connected to the open bottom portion 122 of thehousing 100 is sufficient for preventing disjoinder of the screen 124relative to the housing 100, the provision of the elongate raised ribs132 is of lesser significance.

As discussed above, the depressed external concavity adjacent the rightside face 108 of the housing 100 is for accommodating auxiliary oraccessory structure for association with the primary housing 100. Inthis respect, an opening 136 is provided in the horizontal surface 112of the concavity for accommodating, in slidably adjustable or telescopicrelation, a cylindrical sleeve 138 having inner annular ribs 140, a freeend which extends into the housing 100 proximate the screen 124, andspaced from the latter so that a rodent may enter the sleeve 138, and anopposite end flange of increased diameter 142 for resting upon theopening 136. Pursuant to one form of the present invention, there isprovided an annular gasket or sleeve of generally elastomeric nature144, which is generally T- shaped in vertical cross-section, forfrictionally retaining an inner tube 146 likewise having annular ribs148 in telescopic relation internally of the cylindrical sleeve 138.Each of the members 138 and 146 at the end portions thereof which areexposed respectively to the rodent confined in the housing 100, areprovided with protective metallic rings 150 and 152 respectively asmeans for resisting gnawing by the confined rodents.

Accordingly, the inner tube 146 may be telescopically arrangedinternally of the cylindrical sleeve 138 so as to be brought toward andaway from the screen 124 at the open bottom portion of the housing 100into any elevation that the hobbyist so desires, the respective annularribs 140 and 148, acting to permit the rodent to climb upwardly in avertical direction through the inner tube 146 and sleeve 138. Thisfeature will be further discussed below.

Beside the opening 136 there is provided an additional opening 154 ofsimilar nature, the periphery of which is utilized for supporting abottle support-sleeve 156 having an end flange 158 at the upper portionthereof for resting upon the periphery of the additional opening 154.The bottle support-sleeve 156 is provided at its opposite end with anaperture 160 extending through the generally rounded or hemisphericalbottom end portion 162 thereof, for gnaw-resistant purposes, the sleeve156 acting to contain in detachable or free resting relation, a bottle164 or the like in which is provided feed substance, preferably ofliquid nature, the bottle 164 having a tube 166 extending therefrom andprojecting through the aperture 160 provided in the hemishperical bottomend 162 of the sleeve 156. Thus, the rodent may stand upwardly so as tosuck upon the tube 166 so as to withdraw the feed substance therefrom.

Pursuant to one form of the present invention, there is provided anauxiliary or sub-housing 168, of shallow nature, which is preferablytransparent, and possibly tinted colorwise for hiding purposes, thesub-housing 168 having a perforated metallic lid 170 detachablyassociated therewith in a conventional manner such as through theprovision of detents and the like, or by dovetail connection. Thesub-housing 168 may be provided with an opening formed in the baseportion thereof for detachable association with the aforementioned innertube 146 which is teliscopically arranged internally of the sleeve 138.The sub-housing 168 may be detachably secured to the inner tube 146 suchas in press-fit relation through the intermediary of an appropriateelastomeric gasket or the like, and together with the inner tube 146,may be elevated to a position similar to that position illustrated inFIG. 4, relative to the housing 100, from the lowered position thereof,as illustrated in FIG. '1. In the position as referred to in FIG. 4, therodent may climb upwardly through the raised .inner tube 146 so as toreach the elevated sub-housing 168 for either observing his surroundingsor hiding therein, especially when the sub-housing 168 is of tintednature. Obviously, the depressed external concavity aforementioned, mayreadily accommodate the sub-housing 168, when the latter is in a loweredposi' tion and overlying the generally upper horizontal surface 112, soas to permit storage of the housing 100, or packaging and shipping ofthe housing together with the sub-housing 168 adjustably securedthereto. The hobbyist simply need raise the inner tube 146andsub-housing 168 supported thereon, relative to the housing 106 in amanner generally illustrated in FIG. 4 for making the assembly somewhatmore interesting both from the hobbyists and the rodents standpoint.

Another significant feature of permitting the inner tube 146 to bebrought downwardly within the housing 100 is the face that when theinner tube 146 is of sufficient extent so as to generally contact thescreen 124, when the sub-housing 168 is in its lowermost position uponthe external concavity aforementioned, a rodent will be entrapped withinthe sub-housing 168 and permit simple removal of the rodent, whennecessary, from the arrangement without the hobbyist having tohaphazardly grope within the housing 100 through the open top portion118 of the latter housing upon removal of the perforated metallic platedetachably secured thereto.

As generally illustrated in FIGS, 8, 16 and 18, the primary housing 100may be utilized as a basis relative to which other sub-housings and thelike may be communicated therewith through the intermediary ofappropriate tubes in a manner as will be further discussed below. Inorder to permit interconnection of additional communicating tubes to theprimary housing 100, the latter is provided with an opening 172 in theface 106 thereof, which opening 172 may be detachably closed by means ofa metal blind plate 174, likewise perforated for air penetration, themetal blind plate 174 and opening 172 having associated conventionalbayonet interlocking elements which permit insertion of the plate 174into the opening 172 and a turning of the plate 174 relative to theopening 172 into a locked or unlocked condition. Clearly, the provisionof the metal blind plate 174 serves to likewise resist gnawing of theopening 172 by the rodent.

Pursuant to a preferred form of the sub-housing 168, the latter isintegrally interconnected to a tube 176 hav' ing a raised or uppercylindrical wall 178 which projects internally of the sub-housing 168 ina manner generally illustrated in FIG. 7 for confining waste, food orother matter in the latter. The elongate extent of the tube 176externally of the sub-housing 176 may be of any desired length and maybe telescopically arranged through the intermediary of an appropriateelastomeric gasket (not shown) internally of the inner tube 146 which islikewise telescopically arranged internally of the sleeve 138. The tube176 should likewise be provided with annular ribs 180 or the like topermit a rodent to climb upwardly therealong and into the subhousing168. A significant feature of the present invention is to provide tubesgenerally denoted by the reference character 200, which are constitutedgenerally of rigid thermoplastic and are likewise transparent and whichmay be interconnected to one another through the intermediary ofelastomeric coupling sleeves 202 in a manner generally illustrated inFIGS. 4 and 5. In this respect, pursuant to one form of an elastomericcoupling sleeve 202, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the sleeve 202 isprovided with an internal annular spacer 203 against which respectivetubes 200 may abut at their respective end portions. Clearly, theprovision of the elastomeric coupling sleeves 202 acts to permit oraccommodate slight bending of the tubes 200 relative to one another atthe elastomeric coupling sleeves 202 and thereby obviate the probabilityof fracture of the end portions of these tubes as adjoining one another.

The tubes 200 should preferably be provided as a pair of semi-annularmating portions 204A and 2048 respectively each having associatedtherewith semiannular internal ribs 206. Pursuant to one form of thesemi-annular mating portions 204A and 2048, each is provided with atongue 208 along one portion thereof and a groove 210 along the otherportion thereof for mutually interfitting in associated tongue andgrooves in the mate of the portions 204A and 2048 respectively, asillustrated generally in FIGS. 10 and 11.

Pursuant to another form of the tubes 200 and elastomeric couplingsleeves, the semi-annular mating portions of the tubes 200, asillustrated in FIG. 9, and denoted by the reference characters 211A and2118 respectively, are provided with end portions which have an externalsemi-annular end ridge 212 for interfitting within respective internalannular grooves 214 provided in an alternate embodiment of theelastomeric coupling sleeve and denoted generally by the referencecharacter 216, the sleeve 216 having an external annular groove .218 forenhancing the extent of deformation permitted by the sleeve 260 when thetubes 200 are bent relative to one another at the end portions as joinedby the sleeve 216. Clearly, the sleeve 216 may expand slightly so as topermit penetration of the end portions of the tubes 200 which areprovided with the external semi-annular ridges 212 for insertion intothe respective internal annular grooves 214.

The significance of providing the tubes 200 with the mating portionsthereof such as the portions 204A and 2048 respectively, or the portions211A and 2118 respectively, is that these tubes when dismantled from theassembly such that the mating portions are separated from one another,will readily permit cleaning of the interior of these tubes of animalexcrement and other debris which collect along the internally ribbedportions thereof during the natural course of use by the animal orrodent of the assembly. Obviously, the assembly must be cleansedperiodically of the debris as the debris tends to collect therein andoften presents the assembly with an undesirable odor. Clearly, when thetubes 200 are separated into their mating portions, the interior thereofmay be readily cleaned easily and effectively in a manner which is nototherwise permitted by tubes of entirely cylindrical extent in which areprovided ribs or the like.

Pursuant to an alternate embodiment of the primary housing 100, thelatter is provided with a generally closed uppermost surface 220 asillustrated in FIG. 14. In this respect, a generally L-shaped accessopening 222 is provided or formed as part of the uppermost closedsurface 220 and the adjacent front surface 102, the access opening 222being closable such as by means of a conformingly L-shaped perforatedmetal door 224 as illustrated in FIG. 15. The metal door 224 may beprovided with detents 226 or the like, whereas the opposite portions ofthe acccess openings 222 may be provided with tabs 228 or the like whichinterlock in snap-fit relation generally with the detents 226 providedin the metal door 224. Moreover, the metal door 224 may rest uponappropriately provided L-shaped shoulders provided inwardly or below thesurfaces 220 and 102. Accordingly, access into the primary housing isreadily permitted by simply detaching the L- shaped perporated metaldoor 224 from the upper portion of the housing 100.

As discussed above, the screen 124 should be slightly spaced in parallelrelation with the bottom interior of the tray 126 and this feature maybe readily observed in FIG. 17. In this respect, an internallyprojecting ridge 240 extends along and inwardly of each of the verticalwall portions of the tray 126 and cooperate in generally snap-fitrelation with a generally outer horizontal ledge 242 provided along theexternal periphery of the bottom portion of the housing 100, the innerridges 240 of the tray 126 being deformed slightly outwardly relative tothe bottom portion of the housing 100 because of the generallyelastomeric nature of the tray 126.

Moreover, the internal periphery of the bottom portion of the housing100 adjacent the screen 124 is provided with an inner ridge 144 or thelike spaced slightly vertically below the aforementioned horizontalledge 242 of the housing 100 for accommodating therebetween theperiphery of the screen 124 in generally detachable, yet fixed relation.Thus, the screen 124 which should be constituted preferably of metal,will withstand the weight of an animal moving therealong withoutbuldging downwardly into contact with the bottom interior of the tray126 when the screen 124 is sufficiently rigid and appropriatelyinterfitted along the inner ridge 244 as aforementioned. Clearly, whenthe screen 124 is sufficiently rigid for withstanding the weight of ananimal, the provision of the elongate ribs 132 along the bottom interiorof the tray 126 is unnecessary.

Referring now to FIGS. 16 and 18, the present invention contemplates theprovision of further auxiliary sub-housings 260 each having a bottomscreen 261 and associated with a shallow tray 262 in a manner discussedabove for the primary housing 100, each of the sub-housings furthermorebeing provided with an access opening 264 with which is associated aremovable perforated plate 266 for access thereinto respectively.Furthermore, each of the sub-housings 260 is provided withtubeconnecting openings 268 which may be closed by means of a perforatedmetal blind 270 associated with the openings 268 respectively in bayonetfashion as aforementioned. Clearly, when the tubeconnecting openings 268are not to be utilized, such as the leftmost opening 268 illustrated inFIG. 16, the perforated meta] blind 270 acts to close the opening andresist gnawing of the opening.

However, when the tube-connecting openings 268, such as the righmostopening for the sub-housing tube 260 illustrated in FIG. 16, are to beused, then the associated metal blind 270 is removed and a respectivetube constituted of the portions 204A and 2048 or 211A and 211B isinserted into the perspective opening for communication with thesub-housing 260.

Accordingly, each of the sub-housings 260 are provided with one or aplurality of these tube-connecting openings 268 so that they may bearranged relative to one another and relative to the primary housing 100in a manner illustrated both in FIGS. 16 and 18 respectively. Obviously,certain of the openings 268, especially those which are provided in theuppermost horizontal surface of each of these sub-housings 260, may beutilized likewise for accommodating therein a bottle support-sleeve 156in a manner likewise illustrated in FIG. 18.

Referring further to FIGS. 8 and 18, the present invention contemplatesthe utilization of T-shaped coupling members denoted generally by thereference character 272. These coupling members 272 may be provided witha generally tri-pod array of communicating branches for accommodatingrespective end portions of the tubes 200 in a manner illustrated in FIG.20, or alternatively may be provided with respective external annularridges 274 respectively upon which may be press-fit an elastomericsleeve 216 provided internally with the annular grooves 214 respectivelyas illustrated in FIG. 19. In the latter instance, the members 272 maythemselves be split into two mating portions with one another, in amanner generally similar to the tubes 200 having the portions 204A and20413 respectively or the portions 211A and 21 1B respectively, and bemaintained in mating or opposing relationship with one another by meansof the elastomeric gaskets 216 connected to the respective branchesthereof.

As illustrated in FIGS. 21 and 22 respectively, two further embodimentsof the arrangement by which the mating portions of the tubes 200 may bemated with one another are contemplated. In this request, the elongateend faces of the tubes 204A and 2043 respectively may be generally of aflat extent in a manner illustrated in FIG. 22 so as to abut one anotherflushly and maintain an orientation relative to one another by means ofthe elastomeric gaskets or sleeves 202 or the like positioned along theopposite end portions thereof. However, as illustrated in FIG. 21, theopposing elongate faces of the portions 204A and 2048 respectively, maybe provided with cut-outs which interfit with one another in a mannersimilar to a tongue and groove but are referred to herein as a generallyship-lap interconnection whereby the portion 204A having a pair ofinterior cut-outs 276 acts to receive mating male portions formed aspart of the exterior cut-outs 278 respectively provided in the segmentsor portions 204B respectively. In this instance, likewise the portions204A and 204B are restrained against separation from one another byproviding the elastomeric sleeves 202 or the like at the opposite endportions thereof.

It should be understood that the utilization of the tees, tubes, andhousings, as arranged in communicating relationship requires the closingof various openings at the end portions of the tubes, tees orsub-housings, and this obviously is permitted by utilization of theelastomeric sleeves which accommodate therein metal blind discs, such asthe discs 270, within the annular grooves which may be formed thereinrespectively.

Accordingly, the arrangements, as illustrated in the various FIGURES ofthe drawings, refer to an animal habitat which may be arranged,dismantled, stored or otherwise used in almost any selective manner thata hobbyist so desires. Each and every one of the components of theanimal habitat, pursuant to the present invention, may be readilycleaned, and permit entrapment of an animal in an isolated area withoutthe animal being permitted to escape during the cleansing process,whether the cleansing process relates to cleansing of the tubesthemselves or the housings as provided for communication with oneanother. Clearly, the rodent is encouraged to explore his surroundings,utilizing the confined passageways offered by the communicating tubes oruse of interior accessories such as exercising wheels 300 illustrated inphantom in FIG. 16 and, thus, the rodent itself is much more interestingto maintain and observe within a generally entirely transparentarrangement with little possibility of escaping.

Numerous alterations of the structure herein disclosed will suggest.themselves to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be understoodthat the present disclosure relates to a preferred embodiment of theinvention which is for purposes of illustration only and is not to beconstrued as a limitation of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An animal habitat comprising an at least partially transparenthousing which includes an open bottom portion; a screen connected acrosssaid open bottom portion; tray means operatively associated with saidopen bottom portion for receiving the latter in detachable relation,said screen acting to generally isolate and maintain an animal in saidhousing from said tray means when the latter is either attached ordetached from said housing; means for defining an adjustable passagewaycommunicating with the interior of said housing, said adjustablepassageway including tube segments each constituted by a pair of matingsemicylindrical portions associated detachable with one another ingenerally annularly abutting relation, each of said semi-cylindricalportions being provided with an internally ribbed concavity andassociated ones of said semi-cylindrical portions being mated inship-lap relation; and at least one sub-housing detachably associatedwith said tube segments and having a bottom portion through and abovewhich a litter-retaining tube segment projects partially.

2. An animal habitat as claimed in claim 1 wherein said tray means is ashallow tray and said open bottom portion includes means for maintaininga substantial portion of said screen in generally slightly spacedparallel relation with a bottom interior of said tray.

3. An animal habitat as claimed in claim 2 wherein the bottom interiorof said tray includes a partially raised portion for contacting saidscreen and reenforcing the latter against deforming downwardly whensubjected to the weight of an animal.

4. An animal habitat as claimed in claim 1 wherein said tray includes anupper surrounding auxiliary litterconfining flange flaring upwardly andoutwardly away from said housing.

5. An animal habitat as claimed in claim 1 wherein said screen isprovided with grid openings each having an extent of at leastone-quarter inch for readily permitting conformingly sized litterparticles to pass freely therethrough.

6. An animal habitat as claimed in claim 1 wherein said tray means isconstituted of elastically deformable thermoplastic for permittingdetachable snap-fit insertion of said open bottom portion of saidhousing there into.

7. An animal habitat comprising an at least partially transparenthousing for confining an animal, said housing having an opening formedin a top surface thereof, and conduit means detachably associated withsaid opening for defining a lengthwise adjustable passagewaycommunicating with the interior of said housing and accessible to theanimal, said adjustable passageway projecting downwardly through saidopening in said top surface of said housing so that a lower open end ofsaid passageway is slidably positionable between proximate and remotespaced locations relative to a bottom surface of said housing, saidconduit means comprising a tube of adjustable length and furthercomprising a sub-housing connected to said tube and movable togetherwith the latter from the raised position above said top surface to alowered position approximately overlying said bottom surface of saidhousing.

8. An animal habitat as claimed in claim 7 wherein said adjustablepassageway includes a plurality of tube segments adjustably associatedwith one another telescopically.

9. An animal habitat as claimed in claim 7 wherein said adjustablepassageway includes tube segments each constituted by a pair of matingsemi-cylindrical portions associated detachably with one another ingenerally annularly abutting relation.

10. An animal habitat as claimed in claim 9 including elastomericsleeves interposed between telescopically associated tube segments forretaining frictionally the tube segments as telescopically adjusted towithstand the weight of an animal climbing upwardly therethrough.

11. An animal habitat as claimed in claim 9 wherein each of saidsemi-cylindrical portions is provided with an internally ribbedconcavity.

12. An animal habitat as claimed in claim 11 wherein each of saidsemi-cylindrical portions is associated with its mate in ship-laprelation.

13. An animal habitat as claimed in claim 7 wherein said housing isconstituted of generally rigid transparent thermoplastic and includes aninternally projecting gnaw-resistant accessory-support convexity havinga radius of curvature of at least one-half inches.

14. An animal habitat as claimed in claim 7 wherein said housing has awidth substantially less than the height and length thereof formaintaining an animal in clearly observable close proximity to atransparent front portion of said housing.

15. An animal habitat as claimed in claim 7 wherein said housingincludes an open bottom portion, tray means operatively associated withsaid open bottom portion, and an upper portion having a lesser lengthand width than said open bottom portion, said tray means having agreater length and width than said open bottom portion and beingconstituted of generally abrasion-resistant elastomeric material forwithstanding rubbing and absorbing impact when packaged together withsaid housing therein.

16. An animal habitat as claimed in claim 7, wherein said sub-housingincludes an upper generally horizontal surface which extends generallyin a near co-planar relation with said top surface of said housing whensaid sub-housing is in said loweredposition thereof.

17. An animal habitat as claimed in claim 16, wherein said tube to whichis connected said subhousing includes internally roughened surface meansfor permitting an animal to climb upwardly therein.

18. An animal habitat as claimed in claim 16, wherein said tube isgenerally transparent and of sufficient elongate extent for contactingsaid bottom sur face of said housing when said sub-housing is in saidlowered position thereof, thereby permitting entrapment of an animal insaid tube and sub-housing.

19. An animal habitat as claimed in claim 18, wherein said housing isprovided with at least one further gnaw-resistant closable opening, andincluding further tubes, and means for assembling said further tubes inboth series in parallel communication with both said further closableopening in said housing and said subhousing.

20. An animal habitat as claimed in claim 19, wherein the latter saidmeans includes respective tees and elbows each having a pair of matingsegments and secured to one another with respective elastomeric sleeves.

21. An animal habitat as claimed in claim 7, further comprising anadditional opening in said top surface of said housing; and means fordetachably supporting feed-substance in said additional opening.

22. An animal habitat as claimed in claim 21, wherein saidfeed-substance means includes a detachable elongate sleeve having anapertured loweredrounded gnaw-resistant end through which detachablyprojects a feed tube from a feed-substance carryingbottle.

23. An animal habitat as claimed in claim 7, wherein said lengthadjustable conduit means comprises a plurality of communicating tubes;and elastomeric coupling means configured to snappingly engagerespective end portions of two communicating tubes.

24. An animal habitat as claimed in claim 23, wherein each tube has anannular rim at its respective end portions, and said coupling meanscomprises a flexible elastomeric coupling sleeve provided with twospaced annular grooves adapted to snappingly receive the rims of twocommunicating tubes.

25. An animal habitat as claimed in claim 7, wherein said conduit meanscomprises a pair of elongate semiannular mating portions which togetherdefine an elongate cylindrical tube.

26. An animal habitat as claimed in claim 7, wherein said conduit meansare provided with spaced annular internal ribs along its length, wherebythe animal may engage said ribs for improved traction.

27. An animal habitat as claimed in claim 7, wherein said conduit meanscomprises a plurality of communicating tubes together defining apassageway having portions thereof directed in different directions.

28. An animal habitat as claimed in claim 7, wherein said housing has afurther opening, and wherein said conduit means comprises a plurality oftubes associated with said opening for defining a lengthwise adjustablepassageway exteriorly of said housing which communicates at respectiveends thereof with the interior of said housing, whereby the animal mayleave said housing through one opening therethrough and return throughsaid passageway into said housing through the other opening.

29. An animal habitat comprising an at least partially transparenthousing for confining an animal, said housing having an opening formedtherein, and conduit means detachably associated with said opening fordefining a lengthwise adjustable passageway communicating with theinterior of said housing and accessible to the animal, said housingincluding a top portion which defines an external concavity having anupper generally horizontal surface, said housing also having a lowergenerally horizontal surface, and a rounded transition surface joiningthe upper and lower horizontal surfaces to one another, said openingbeing provided in said lower horizontal surface, said conduit meanscomprising a tube slidably adjustable vertically in said opening and asub-housing connected to said tube and movable together with the latterfrom a raised position above said upper horizontal surface at a loweredposition approximately overlying said lower horizontal surface.

30. An animal habitat as claimed in claim 29 wherein said shallowsub-housing includes an upper generally horizontal surface which extendsgenerally in near coplanar relation with said upper horizontal surfaceof said housing when said subhousing is in said lowered positionthereof.

31. An animal habitat as claimed in claim 30 wherein said tube to whichis connected said sub-housing includes internally roughened surfacemeans for permitting an animal to climb upwardly therein.

32. An animal habitat as claimed in claim 30 wherein said tube isgenerally transparent and of suff cient elongate extent for contactingsaid screen in said housing when said sub-housing is in said loweredposition thereof, thereby, permitting entrapment of an animal in saidtube and sub-housing.

33. An animal habitat as claimed in claim 32 wherein said housing isprovided with at least one further gnawresistant closable opening, andincluding further tubes, and means for assembling said further tubes inboth series and parallel communication with both said further closableopening in said housing and said sub-housing.

34. An animal habitat as claimed in claim 33 wherein the latter saidmeans includes respective tees and elbows each having a pair of matingsegments and secured to one another with respective elastomeric sleeves.

35. An animal habitat as claimed in claim 29 wherein said lowergenerally horizontal surface of said housing is provided with anadditional opening proximate the first said opening, and means fordetachably supporting feed-substance in said additional opening.

36. An animal habitat as claimed in claim 35 wherein the latter saidmeans includes a detachable elongate sleeve having an aperturedlower-rounded gnawresistant end through which detachably projects afeedtube from a feed-substance carrying-bottle.

37. An animal habitat comprising an at least partially transparenthousing for confining an animal, said housing having an opening formedtherein, and length adjustable conduit means detachably associated withsaid opening for defining a lengthwise adjustable passagewaycommunicating with the interior of said housing and accessible to theanimal, said conduit means being formed of generally rigid andtransparent thermoplastic material, said conduit means comprising a pairof elongate semi-annular mating portions which together define anelongate cylindrical tube, each of said mating portions having twospaced elongate portions, one of said elongate portions being providedwith a tongue, said other elongate portion being provided with a grooveconfigurated to receive said tongue when said mating portions areassembled to define the cylindrical tube.

38. An animal habitat as claimed in claim 37, wherein said matingportions are provided with similarly disposed tongues and grooves alongrespective elongate portions to thereby make said mating portionsidentical and interchangeable.

39. An animal habitat comprising an at least partially transparenthousing for confining an animal, said housing being provided with anopening in a top surface thereof; a vertically disposed elongate tubeadjustable lengthwise in the vertical direction detachably associatedwith said opening for defining a lengthwise adjustable passageway ofsaid housing and accessible to the animal, said elongate tube beingformed of generally rigid and transparent thermoplastic material; and anauxiliary housing having an opening formed therein and spaced from saidfirst-mentioned housing, said elongate tube being associated with theopening in both said housings for defining a lengthwise adjustablepassageway communicating with the interiors of said housings, saidauxiliary housing being supported by the top end portion of saidelongate tube, whereby the interiors of each of said housings, isaccessible to the animal irrespective of the spacing between saidhousings and whereby the animal must climb upwardly inside the elongatetube to leave the first-mentioned housing and enter said auxiliaryhousing.

1. An animal habitat comprising an at least partially transparenthousing which includes an open bottom portion; a screen connected acrosssaid open bottom portion; tray means operatively associated with saidopen bottom portion for receiving the latter in detachable relation,said screen acting to generally isolate and maintain an animal in saidhousing from said tray means when the latter is either attached ordetached from said housing; means for defining an adjustable passagewaycommunicating with the interior of said housing, said adjustablepassageway including tube segments each constituted by a pair of matingsemi-cylindrical portions associated detachable with one another ingenerally annularly abutting relation, each of said semi-cylindricalportions being provided with an internally ribbed concavity andassociated ones of said semi-cylindrical portions being mated inship-lap relation; and at least one subhousing detachably associatedwith said tube segments and having a bottom portion through and abovewhich a litter-retaining tube segment projects partially.
 2. An animalhabitat as claimed in claim 1 wherein said tray means is a shallow trayand said open bottom portion includes means for maintaining asubstantial portion of said screen in generally slightly spaced parallelrelation with a bottom interior of said tray.
 3. An animal habitat asclaimed in claim 2 wherein the bottom interior of said tray includes apartially raised portion for contacting said screen and reenforcing thelatter against deforming downwardly when subjected to the weight of ananimal.
 4. An animal habitat as claimed in claim 1 wherein said trayincludes an upper surrounding auxiliary litter-coNfining flange flaringupwardly and outwardly away from said housing.
 5. An animal habitat asclaimed in claim 1 wherein said screen is provided with grid openingseach having an extent of at least one-quarter inch for readilypermitting conformingly sized litter particles to pass freelytherethrough.
 6. An animal habitat as claimed in claim 1 wherein saidtray means is constituted of elastically deformable thermoplastic forpermitting detachable snap-fit insertion of said open bottom portion ofsaid housing thereinto.
 7. An animal habitat comprising an at leastpartially transparent housing for confining an animal, said housinghaving an opening formed in a top surface thereof, and conduit meansdetachably associated with said opening for defining a lengthwiseadjustable passageway communicating with the interior of said housingand accessible to the animal, said adjustable passageway projectingdownwardly through said opening in said top surface of said housing sothat a lower open end of said passageway is slidably positionablebetween proximate and remote spaced locations relative to a bottomsurface of said housing, said conduit means comprising a tube ofadjustable length and further comprising a sub-housing connected to saidtube and movable together with the latter from the raised position abovesaid top surface to a lowered position approximately overlying saidbottom surface of said housing.
 8. An animal habitat as claimed in claim7 wherein said adjustable passageway includes a plurality of tubesegments adjustably associated with one another telescopically.
 9. Ananimal habitat as claimed in claim 7 wherein said adjustable passagewayincludes tube segments each constituted by a pair of matingsemi-cylindrical portions associated detachably with one another ingenerally annularly abutting relation.
 10. An animal habitat as claimedin claim 9 including elastomeric sleeves interposed betweentelescopically associated tube segments for retaining frictionally thetube segments as telescopically adjusted to withstand the weight of ananimal climbing upwardly therethrough.
 11. An animal habitat as claimedin claim 9 wherein each of said semi-cylindrical portions is providedwith an internally ribbed concavity.
 12. An animal habitat as claimed inclaim 11 wherein each of said semi-cylindrical portions is associatedwith its mate in ship-lap relation.
 13. An animal habitat as claimed inclaim 7 wherein said housing is constituted of generally rigidtransparent thermoplastic and includes an internally projectinggnaw-resistant accessory-support convexity having a radius of curvatureof at least one-half inches.
 14. An animal habitat as claimed in claim 7wherein said housing has a width substantially less than the height andlength thereof for maintaining an animal in clearly observable closeproximity to a transparent front portion of said housing.
 15. An animalhabitat as claimed in claim 7 wherein said housing includes an openbottom portion, tray means operatively associated with said open bottomportion, and an upper portion having a lesser length and width than saidopen bottom portion, said tray means having a greater length and widththan said open bottom portion and being constituted of generallyabrasion-resistant elastomeric material for withstanding rubbing andabsorbing impact when packaged together with said housing therein. 16.An animal habitat as claimed in claim 7, wherein said sub-housingincludes an upper generally horizontal surface which extends generallyin a near co-planar relation with said top surface of said housing whensaid sub-housing is in said lowered position thereof.
 17. An animalhabitat as claimed in claim 16, wherein said tube to which is connectedsaid sub-housing includes internally roughened surface means forpermitting an animal to climb upwardly therein.
 18. An animal habitat asclaimed in claim 16, wherein said tube is generally transparent and ofsufficient elongate extent for contActing said bottom surface of saidhousing when said sub-housing is in said lowered position thereof,thereby permitting entrapment of an animal in said tube and sub-housing.19. An animal habitat as claimed in claim 18, wherein said housing isprovided with at least one further gnaw-resistant closable opening, andincluding further tubes, and means for assembling said further tubes inboth series in parallel communication with both said further closableopening in said housing and said sub-housing.
 20. An animal habitat asclaimed in claim 19, wherein the latter said means includes respectivetees and elbows each having a pair of mating segments and secured to oneanother with respective elastomeric sleeves.
 21. An animal habitat asclaimed in claim 7, further comprising an additional opening in said topsurface of said housing; and means for detachably supportingfeed-substance in said additional opening.
 22. An animal habitat asclaimed in claim 21, wherein said feed-substance means includes adetachable elongate sleeve having an apertured lowered-roundedgnaw-resistant end through which detachably projects a feed tube from afeed-substance carrying-bottle.
 23. An animal habitat as claimed inclaim 7, wherein said length adjustable conduit means comprises aplurality of communicating tubes; and elastomeric coupling meansconfigured to snappingly engage respective end portions of twocommunicating tubes.
 24. An animal habitat as claimed in claim 23,wherein each tube has an annular rim at its respective end portions, andsaid coupling means comprises a flexible elastomeric coupling sleeveprovided with two spaced annular grooves adapted to snappingly receivethe rims of two communicating tubes.
 25. An animal habitat as claimed inclaim 7, wherein said conduit means comprises a pair of elongatesemi-annular mating portions which together define an elongatecylindrical tube.
 26. An animal habitat as claimed in claim 7, whereinsaid conduit means are provided with spaced annular internal ribs alongits length, whereby the animal may engage said ribs for improvedtraction.
 27. An animal habitat as claimed in claim 7, wherein saidconduit means comprises a plurality of communicating tubes togetherdefining a passageway having portions thereof directed in differentdirections.
 28. An animal habitat as claimed in claim 7, wherein saidhousing has a further opening, and wherein said conduit means comprisesa plurality of tubes associated with said opening for defining alengthwise adjustable passageway exteriorly of said housing whichcommunicates at respective ends thereof with the interior of saidhousing, whereby the animal may leave said housing through one openingtherethrough and return through said passageway into said housingthrough the other opening.
 29. An animal habitat comprising an at leastpartially transparent housing for confining an animal, said housinghaving an opening formed therein, and conduit means detachablyassociated with said opening for defining a lengthwise adjustablepassageway communicating with the interior of said housing andaccessible to the animal, said housing including a top portion whichdefines an external concavity having an upper generally horizontalsurface, said housing also having a lower generally horizontal surface,and a rounded transition surface joining the upper and lower horizontalsurfaces to one another, said opening being provided in said lowerhorizontal surface, said conduit means comprising a tube slidablyadjustable vertically in said opening and a sub-housing connected tosaid tube and movable together with the latter from a raised positionabove said upper horizontal surface at a lowered position approximatelyoverlying said lower horizontal surface.
 30. An animal habitat asclaimed in claim 29 wherein said shallow sub-housing includes an uppergenerally horizontal surface which extends generally in near co-planarrelation with said upper horizontal surface of said housing when saidsubhousing is in said lowered position thereof.
 31. An animal habitat asclaimed in claim 30 wherein said tube to which is connected saidsub-housing includes internally roughened surface means for permittingan animal to climb upwardly therein.
 32. An animal habitat as claimed inclaim 30 wherein said tube is generally transparent and of sufficientelongate extent for contacting said screen in said housing when saidsub-housing is in said lowered position thereof, thereby, permittingentrapment of an animal in said tube and sub-housing.
 33. An animalhabitat as claimed in claim 32 wherein said housing is provided with atleast one further gnaw-resistant closable opening, and including furthertubes, and means for assembling said further tubes in both series andparallel communication with both said further closable opening in saidhousing and said sub-housing.
 34. An animal habitat as claimed in claim33 wherein the latter said means includes respective tees and elbowseach having a pair of mating segments and secured to one another withrespective elastomeric sleeves.
 35. An animal habitat as claimed inclaim 29 wherein said lower generally horizontal surface of said housingis provided with an additional opening proximate the first said opening,and means for detachably supporting feed-substance in said additionalopening.
 36. An animal habitat as claimed in claim 35 wherein the lattersaid means includes a detachable elongate sleeve having an aperturedlower-rounded gnaw-resistant end through which detachably projects afeed-tube from a feed-substance carrying-bottle.
 37. An animal habitatcomprising an at least partially transparent housing for confining ananimal, said housing having an opening formed therein, and lengthadjustable conduit means detachably associated with said opening fordefining a lengthwise adjustable passageway communicating with theinterior of said housing and accessible to the animal, said conduitmeans being formed of generally rigid and transparent thermoplasticmaterial, said conduit means comprising a pair of elongate semi-annularmating portions which together define an elongate cylindrical tube, eachof said mating portions having two spaced elongate portions, one of saidelongate portions being provided with a tongue, said other elongateportion being provided with a groove configurated to receive said tonguewhen said mating portions are assembled to define the cylindrical tube.38. An animal habitat as claimed in claim 37, wherein said matingportions are provided with similarly disposed tongues and grooves alongrespective elongate portions to thereby make said mating portionsidentical and interchangeable.
 39. An animal habitat comprising an atleast partially transparent housing for confining an animal, saidhousing being provided with an opening in a top surface thereof; avertically disposed elongate tube adjustable lengthwise in the verticaldirection detachably associated with said opening for defining alengthwise adjustable passageway of said housing and accessible to theanimal, said elongate tube being formed of generally rigid andtransparent thermoplastic material; and an auxiliary housing having anopening formed therein and spaced from said first-mentioned housing,said elongate tube being associated with the opening in both saidhousings for defining a lengthwise adjustable passageway communicatingwith the interiors of said housings, said auxiliary housing beingsupported by the top end portion of said elongate tube, whereby theinteriors of each of said housings, is accessible to the animalirrespective of the spacing between said housings and whereby the animalmust climb upwardly inside the elongate tube to leave thefirst-mentioned housing and enter said auxiliary housing.